Island



(No Model.)

F-IEII Il DJNEWELL. SELF LBVBLING B ERTH.,y

i e i W d WITNEVEEEEMG Us Patented May 1, 1883.

'n Pneus. num-hmm www ma UNTED 4STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

LORENZO D. NEWELL, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

SELF-LEVELING BERTH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent No. 276,867, dated May 1, 1883. Application filed June 14, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

l so

' make and use the same,reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which `form a part of this specilication.

My invention relates to a self-levelin g berth for vessels, which is designed to maintain a horizontal position while the vessel may be rolling and pitching. 1 y

My invention consists of a cylindrical frame, open on top, in which the berth is suspended.

My invention further consists of an adjustable counterpoise or weight suspended from the transverse axis of the berth, said axis being located above the centerof gravity of the berth,

and forward of said axis.

- Y My invention also consists of a suitable screen or guard secured outside ofthe cylindrical frame, whereby the motion of the berth is protected from the sight of a personoccupying the lower berth or other occupants of the state-room.

My invention also includes peculiar locking -devices for connecting the frame and berth together and also to the state-room. Iu the accompanying drawings, Figurelrepresents a side elevation, partly in section, of

l myberth, showin g the different parts in position constituting my invention. Fig. 2 is a `vertical transverse section on line A B of Fig.

1, showing the adjustable weight and also the device for locking the cylindrical frame to the state-room. Fig. 3 is a partial plan section on line :t w, showing the device for steadyingthe berth. Fig. 4t is a partial plan section on line fw w, showing the device for locking the berth and frame together. t Ain the drawings represents thecylindrical frame, open on the top side, in which the berth is suspended, made of wood or suitable material, said frame being suspended at each end thereof from trunnions or journals a, se-

cured at opposite sides of the state-room, into which the ends of the frame extend, thereby forming au ornamental linish, and is also utilized for securing the guard or screen I thereto, the latter serving both as a sight-protector and stren gtheninglbrace to the berth and stateroom. a

C represents a cleat or brace, being au extension of the guard I, secured at each end of the state-room, extending across and in front of the cylindrical frame, the top edge of which serves as a shelf o'r seat to persons entering or leaving the berth, and contains the lockingbolt for connecting said frame and state-room together. Said brace can also be used upon its top side for supporting a rod across which a curtain may be made to extend.

B represents the berth, which is suspended Ainside the cylindrical frame A and on opposite sides thereof by trunnions or journals b, said journals having flanges b,wl1ich serve to secure it to the berth. b2 are collars upon the ends of said journals, which serve to .prevent lateral motion, and also to loosely secure the frame and berth together. b3 represents the bearings for said journals, which are secured to the inside of said frame A. `The journals b are located above the center line of the frame A,

. and at a short distance nearer thehead end of the berth than the foot, as shown. At b5 the four corners of the under side of the berth are cut away diagonally, as shown, thereby allowing greater vertical motion to the berth.

S are buffers or stops, made of rubber or other elastic material, confined in the sockets, as shown, said buers serving to prevent sudden or violent shocks incident to the motio a of the vessel.

D represents the adjustable counter-weight, which extends acrossthe under side ofthe tberth, and is suspended from the journals b by IOO arms d, the upper end of said arms terminating in handles d'. To said handles are pivoted the secondary levers g, which engage with the teeth of the notched plate li, the latter being letinto and secured to the berth B.

are handles or leverspsecured to pins i', said handles t' having springs cl2 connected therewith, the several parts h g t' i d.' d2 constituting my adjusting device for the said weight D, the latter being capable of adjustment either to right or left, and to the extreme position o o, as shown by heavydotted lines, wherebyits center of gravity is made to extend considerably past its center of suspension.

C O2 represent grooved and tongued metallic strips, having a partly-circular form, secured respectively to frame A and berth B, to each side thereof at the foot end, said strips serving to reduce the strain upon the journals b, as well as to reduce the lateral movement of the berth.

7c represents a metal plate or strip, which is let into and secured to the inside of the cylind tical frame A at the head end thereof, (see Figs. 1 to 4,) said strip having a notch at I, the outer edge thereof being well rounded, Fig. l.

n is a lever or handle, which may be detachable, secured to the Lipper end of the vertical shaft or rod m, and having secured 'at itslower end the locking-bolt Z, said shaftV being supported in bearings secured to the inside of the berth B, and represented in the drawings as locked to the frame A, the object of this locking device being to connect the berth and frame together.

z represents a strip of metal similar to said strip k, secured to the outside of said cylindrical frame A, on the front side thereof and inl the same vertical plane with the journals b, Snc., as shown in Fig. 2.

fw is the locking-bolt, secured tothe lower end ofthe shaft Y, which in turn is supported `in and bythe cleat C.

w is the handle or lever, attached to the upper end of said shaft for operating the locking bolt, the object of this locking-Jdevicebeing to connect the frame and state-room together.

sel may berolling and pitching; and, further,

when desirable to have the motion of the berth coincident with the vessels motion, the locking-bolts l and w are swung into position, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4. The handles d' vserve to assist a person when entering or leaving the berth; but in case of adjusting the counterweight D,the fingers of the operator are made to embrace both the handles d and levers i, when, by closing the hand, the catch g is'raised from the teeth of the plate h, which then allows the weight to be swung to any desired position, after which, by relaxing the lingers,

the catch g will engage with its corresponding notchby the aid of the springs d.

In the drawings, Fig. l, my improved berth is represented as a lower one, and is located near the oor, so as to allow a similar swinging berth above it.

The addition of the parts C I render the motion of the berth and frame invisible to the occupant of the lower berth or to other persons.

With my system of suspending berths I am enabled Vto locate the back side of the berth against the side of the state-room, thereby reducingthe space required for swinging berths to a minimum.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a .self-leveling berth for vessels, the combination of the longitudinal.semi-cylindri- -cal frame A,'provided with trunnions a at the ends thereof, with the berth B and weightv D, the former suspended within the frame A on trunnions b, `said vtrunnions having loosely mounted thereon the adjustable counter-weight D,'substantial1y as shown and described.

2. kIn a self-leveling berth for vessels, the I cylindrical' frame A, suspended on journals a,

provided with'buers'S and strips C', in combination with the cleat or brace C, circular molding H, and-screen or guard I, substantiallyas shown and set forth.

3. In a self-leveling berth for vessels, the

, berthB, suspended on journals b, secured thereto, said' berth having its lower corners, b5, cut

loff diagonally, and also provided with strips C?, in combination with the cylindrical frame A, adapted to receive the journals b, substan- .tially as shown and set forth.

4. In a self-leveling berth for vessels, the counter-weight D, having arms d and adjusting device g i t" d d2, in combination with the swinging berth B, provided with the notched plates h, substantially as shown and set forth.

5. In a self-leveling berth for vessels, the suspended semi-cylindrical frame A, having a notched strip or plate,z ,.secured to the exteterior of said frame, in combination with the cleat C, the latter adapted to receive suitable locking means, substantially as shown and described.

-6. In a self-leveling' berth for vessels, the

' swinging berth B, provided with suitable locking means, in combination with the semi-cylindrical frame A, the latter having a notched strip or plate, k, secured to the inside thereof, substantially asshown and described.

7. In a self-leveling berth for vessels, the suspended frame A, cleat (l, molding H,and

'screen I, the latter extending-across and secured at each end to the state-room, in combination with theberth B and adjustable weight D, substantially as shown andk set forth.

8.'In a'self-leveling berth for vessels, the

combination herein described, consisting of.

the semi-cylindrical frame A and stationary IZO guard or cleat C, the latterprovided with the In testimony whereof Ihave affixed mysigna! locking-bolt w, which serves to fasten said ture in presence of two Witnesses. frame and cleat together, in connection with the berth B, provided with the lockingholt z, g LORENZO D' NEWELL' 5 which latter serves to fasten the frame and Witnesses:

` berth together, the whole constructed and ar- GEO. H. REMINGTON,

ranged substantially as shown and set forth. CEAS. HANNIGAN. 

